Thomas the Tank Engine first appeared in 1946 in the book Thomas the Tank Engine as a station pilot, whose job was to shunt coaches for the
bigger engines. He longed for more important jobs such as pulling the express
train like Gordon, but his inexperience prevented this. Eventually he was
responsible for rescuing James after an accident, and the Fat Controller (then known as the Fat Director) decided
that he was a Really Useful Engine, and ready for his own branch
line. He has remained in charge of this line ever since, with his two
coaches Annie
and Clarabel, and help from Percy the Small Engine and Toby the Tram Engine.

Not only do ANNIE and CLARABEL carry passengers for Thomas, but they also act
as advisors and confidantes. On several occasions they have warned him about
potential hazards, and Thomas invariably runs into trouble when he ignores their
warnings. Annie and Clarabel are occasionally pulled by other engines when
Thomas is busy, but Thomas always worries for their safety.

The coaches first appeared in the 1946 book Thomas the Tank Engine, in which they were awarded
to Thomas along with his branch
line. In this first, brief appearance, they were not named. In Tank Engine Thomas Again (1949), they were given
names and their characters were greatly expanded upon. They appeared in the
first season of the television programme Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and have been in
every season since, although they have not had a speaking role since Season
9.

In The Railway Series, they are depicted as bogie
coaches (ie each coach is supported on a pair of four-wheeled bogies or
"trucks"). In the television series they are depicted as four-wheeled coaches –
they are built on a rigid chassis, with fixed axles. Annie is generally depicted
as having a slightly shocked expression, while Clarabel usually appears smiling.
In both series they appear in a plain orangey-brown colour, and in the
television series they additionally have their names painted on their bodysides.
The colour scheme is based on that of the former British LNER railway, which
formed the basis for a number of Awdry's early characters, whose carriages were
not painted in the normal manner of other railways, but had a teak-wood finish
on the outside, which was plain varnished over, the resulting livery being known
as "varnished teak". When steel carriages were introduced later a paint scheme
was devised by the LNER which closely resembled this colour scheme.

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